At The Mindful Mutt, we offer boarding for a small group of dogs per night. As opposed to a large kennel facility, we focus on individualized attention for each dog, and cater to their individual needs, which includes special medications, supplements, and dietary requirements at no extra fee. This post should help answer some FAQs about boarding here at The Mindful Mutt and help you get your pup prepared for their stay!
I AM A NEW CLIENT. WILL MY DOG ENJOY STAYING AT THE MINDFUL MUTT?
As opposed to facilities that take any dog without meeting them beforehand, we want to make sure your dog is able to relax and enjoy themselves during their stay. For this reason, we require all dogs to attend a full day of daycare as a temperament evaluation. We offer the first day at a discounted rate of $20, which is refundable if it is not a good match for any reason.
During your dog's temperament evaluation, we make sure they do not show aggression, excessive anxiety, or overstimulation, get along with their staff and canine peers, and are able to settle in a crate to ensure they will sleep soundly at night.
On their first visit, we ask that you or someone you trust is able to pick up your dog early if necessary.
I AM A NEW CLIENT. HOW DO I SIGN UP FOR BOARDING?
If you would like to check our availability for boarding on specific dates prior to filling out the client profile, you can always email us at hello@themindfulmutt.com.
The first step to signing up is creating an account on our online portal, which is accessible through the Client Sign In page on our website. You will enter your email address, create a password, and fill out the profile.
Be sure to include:
Your contact information
Emergency contact who will be local during your stay if you are not reachable in an emergency
Dog's name, age, sex, breed, and profile photo
Any medical/dietary restrictions
Vaccine records for Rabies, Distemper, and Bordetella including documentation with recorded expiration dates (NOT an invoice)
E-sign the client agreement
Add a card on file (accessible under Saved Cards)
Once that is complete, you can request a first day for the temperament evaluation under "Daycare," as well as the dates for boarding under "Boarding."
PREPARING FOR YOUR DOG'S TEMPERAMENT EVALUATION DAY
We require all dogs to have ID tags on a collar with a squeeze release clasp (pictured here), and will not accept over-the-head or buckle collars for safety reasons.
Drop off hours are 7:30am - 10am and pick up hours are 3pm-6:30pm.
We recommend bringing your dog in earlier in the day for their first visit, preferably between 7:30am and 8:30am when there are less dogs in the building. This will help your dog acclimate to the new environment better.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING FOR MY DOG'S OVERNIGHT STAYCATION?
FOOD:
Meals should be either individually packaged in separate sealed containers/bags OR in a plastic container with an exact measuring scoop for each meal.
Canned food should have a cover to re-seal if needed.
We do NOT accept large bags of dog food because of our limited food storage space and their inability to re-seal.
Label your dog's food with their name
Please bring enough food for your dog's entire stay PLUS TWO DAYS just in case of a delay in your return. (Please note: A convenience fee of $40 is added if we need to procure additional food.)
We do have a refrigerator and microwave if required.
TREATS:
We provide poultry-free salmon training treats (and the dogs love it!)
If your dog has a special diet (ex: hydrolyzed protein, salmon allergy, etc.), you are welcome to provide treats or additional kibble to be used for training treats. Please label with their name.
MEDICATIONS:
We administer oral medications/supplements, eye drops, and skin treatments (spray or cream) free of charge.
Injecting medication is not a service we provide at this time
COLLAR/HARNESS:
We require all dogs to have a collar with the squeeze release clasp (see photo above).
Buckle collars or over-the-head collars are not permitted for safety reasons.
If your dog wears a harness, please bring it IN ADDITION to the quick-release collar
A PERSONAL ITEM (OPTIONAL):
A single throw blanket and/or toy to remind your dog of home can be provided to your dog at night time. We do not allow them to have these personal items outside of the crate because we do not want other dogs to try to chew or pee on them!
PLEASE DO NOT BRING:
Food bowls (We provide them! Even the slow-feed bowls!)
Additional toys (We have plenty here!)
Stuffed dog beds (We have elevated dog beds here!)
Crates (We have really nice crates here!)
WHAT DOES BOARDING AT THE MINDFUL MUTT INCLUDE?
Every morning, the dogs are taken out for morning potty at 7 am and then fed breakfast individually. We will even feed a dog by hand if they need it! Throughout the day, all dogs in our care go on multiple potty breaks outside as we want to encourage potty outside instead of inside!
All dogs staying at The Mindful Mutt have at least two play/socialization sessions each day (morning and late afternoon), which are each at least 3-hours long (a total of 6-hours per day). For a puppy or older dog, this might be enough action for your dog in one day, so they may want to rest in between and take a nap in the middle of the day in addition to their potty breaks outside.
On weekdays, more active dogs who need more exercise and stimulation during the day are invited to participate in a full day of daycare which includes positive-reinforcement training. Just let us know which days you would like your dog to participate, and we will add your dog to the daycare program for an additional $20 per day selected.
After daycare hours, all boarding dogs are fed dinner separately and taken out to potty. They are able to play, lounge around, or cuddle with staff until their nighttime potty and bedtime at 10 pm.
On weekends, we have a similar schedule, but there are fewer dogs in the building because we do not offer our regular daycare on the weekends. We often offer playgroups on the weekends when our clients can drop off their dogs to play with the boarding dogs. This is usually a smaller group than our weekday daycare of course. We ensure the dogs get nap time in the middle of the day to help keep them well-rested and prevent overstimulation from too much playing/dog interaction. Adequate sleep is very important for dogs' mental and physical well-being!
CAN MY DOG HAVE A BATH DURING THEIR STAY?
Yes! We will happily add on a bath so your dog returns to you smelling fresh and clean! Our bath service includes a light brushing, bath, towel dry, and blow-dry. We use high-end Nature's Specialties shampoo which is a pH-balanced, non-toxic, mild, moisturizing shampoo with aloe vera, silk proteins, and Vitamins A, D, and E.
We do not provide other grooming services such as nail trims or de-matting at this time.
WHEN IS DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP FOR BOARDING DOGS?
Monday - Friday (except holidays): 7:30am - 10am or 3pm - 6:30pm
Saturdays: 10am-1pm
Sundays: 5pm-7pm
Most Holidays: 5pm-7pm
No pick-up/drop-off on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, or New Years Day. We do not offer custom pick-up/drop-off times.
WHAT ARE THE BOARDING RATES?
Boarding rates are per 24-hour period. An additional half-day can be added at the daily daycare rate. (Ex: Drop off Friday morning and pick up Monday afternoon/evening equals 3 overnights plus one daycare day.)
Standard Boarding
$75 per overnight
+$55 additional dog from same family
Extended Stays (14+ Overnights)
$65 per overnight
+$50 additional dog from same family
Add Full-Day of Daycare
+$20 per dog per day
If you have any questions about boarding your pup at The Mindful Mutt, feel free to e-mail us at hello@themindfulmutt.com
